Help for English Students

Studying for the Trials: Module B Summary

Module B is the most traditional of the Advanced English modules. It’s the one where you study the text and look at different interpretations. The key idea here is how the text has been received in different contexts. I suggest organising your summary like this:

Key Idea or Theme

quote + technique + explanation

note on how this theme has been interpreted in different contexts

Example from Hamlet

Political Corruption

“unweeded garden” – metaphor (extended metaphor) – Hamlet feels that the world is decaying due to the political corruption in the Danish court

Modern audience: blase attitude to political corruption due to pervasive cynicism.

Example from Cloudstreet

Fate

“the knife never lies” – personification – reinforces the role of superstition in Lester Lamb’s life

Can be inspire empathy or pity in the audience, depending on differing values

Five or six major themes with three or four quotes/techniques for each and you should have what you need to start writing practice responses. If you find yourself short on ideas for a response, go back to your summary and add more detail.